Homework for April 27, 2014 and how to order new books

There will be no meeting for the next 2 weeks, in observance and preparation for the religious holidays. Our next meeting will be April 27, 2014.

This morning, we read and shared on the handouts on steps 4 and 5 and discussed the merits of the 2 different step 4 inventory formats: the assets and liabilities and the 5 column inventory. The links are below:

It was also suggested that we spend some time during the group to discuss how to sponsor someone and take them through the steps.

We are adding other materials for our group:

Rather than reading just from the AA 12&12, we are also going to be reading and sharing on the Little Red Book and the Tablemate during our group.

Everyone is encouraged to obtain a copy of each, which are easily available. As a note of historical reference, the Little Red Book that is available now has been edited and is slightly different from the original. It is possible to buy a copy of the original and/or the current edition.

The Table Mate contains the most successful set of beginners lessons ever devised in early AA, and was used all over the United States. It is still being used today in Detroit and in northern Indiana. The beginners class meets once a week for four weeks to cover the four lessons: Discussion No. 1, “The Admission,” Step 1. Discussion No. 2, “The Spiritual Phase,” Steps 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 11. Discussion No. 2, “Inventory and Restitution,” Steps 4, 8, 9, and 10. Discussion No. 4, “Active Work,” Step 12. The original title of the pamphlet was “Alcoholics Anonymous: An Interpretation of the Twelve Steps.” It was also known as “The Table Mate,” the “Detroit Pamphlet,” and the “Washington D.C. Pamphlet.”

Many of the substantive parts of Wally P.’s book, Back to Basics, are in fact copied verbatim from the pamphlet, which Wally tends to refer to as the Washington D.C. pamphlet in his book.

With respect to sponsorship and taking someone through the steps with the Back to Basics, I highly recommend buying a copy of Wally P.’s book:

Back to Basics: The Alcoholics Anonymous Beginners’ Meetings: “Here are the steps we took….” in Four One-Hour Sessions by Wally P. We used it during our recent workshop. It is very accessible and simple to use successfully.